Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Conference League match.
On a neutral pitch in Sumgayit, Azerbaijan, the two main underdogs of the third-tier European competition are set to face off. Both clubs are currently without any points, but that is guaranteed to change for one of the sides.
Dinamo Minsk
Dinamo Minsk have not progressed to the group stage of European competitions since the 2015/16 season when they competed in the UEFA Europa League, securing just one win out of six matches. Dinamo Minsk now have a genuine chance of winning—if not against a comparable opponent, then against whom? Over the weekend, they drew with their namesakes from Brest and celebrated winning the Belarusian championship for the second consecutive year. Their spirits should be soaring.
Larne
For Larne, the mood is quite the opposite. Their issues extend beyond Europe, where they languish in the last 36th place in the Conference League, to domestic struggles. The reigning Northern Irish champions are in an unfamiliar ninth position out of 12 in their league. Their fixtures have been frequently postponed—five times in 19 rounds—most recently with the match against Loughgall being moved due to Storm Darragh. Adjusting to such a schedule is challenging for a club making its debut in the group stage of any European competition.
Dinamo Minsk vs Larne Prediction
Despite previous setbacks in the Conference League, Dinamo Minsk are poised to secure their first victory. Their prior opponents were significantly stronger, as illustrated by their encounter with Copenhagen (1:2). The time is ripe for a win.
